Readers' comments

Brazil is a failure and a country of lies, made by propaganda, year after year were listening stories like this, promises and lies by the government, bu the true and the real brazil are the favelas and poverty.

Key factor for the success of Tokaido Shinkansen was the fact that both Tokyo and Osaka already had very extensive urban and suburban railway network that acted as the feeders to the Shinkansen.
So, both Rio and Sao Paulo should prioritize on building their respective urban rail network BEFORE even thinking about HSR between the two cities.

As they need basic "plumbing", like someone has said, they need feasible and enviromentally friendly way to connect 35+ million people between those cities. The roads and airpors, for those who've been there, are saturated. Expanding capacity would be expensive with a high enviromental impact. "Plumbing" is to be provided by the local government. Which by the way, the government is doing in with the PAC program. The TAV (High speed train) will be a private investmen with a potential soft loan from local federal bank. That is why there is bid in place, otherwise the government would have been building it already. For those who don't know, the government is also, with federal funds, expanding the cargo and regular passenger rail network. So not sure what most people here are talking about flaming a project that is needed in a country that will probably lead the economic "train" in the Americas.

"It is so easy to think of a long list of more worthwhile infrastructure projects in Brazil that it is hard to understand why this one is not dismissed out of hand."

The same reason why those other projects were done anyway, because to often politicians want to be in charge of prestige projects something to say thats what I achieved in my time, and high speed rail is very fancy. And unfortunately providing plumbing is not fancy enough.

I don't care how the high-speed rail project is paid for... I want to have the option of driving, flying or taking a fast train to my destination just like people in Europe and Japan do. Can everyone traveling between UK and continental Europe afford the Eurostar? No, but it is available to those who can. Can everyone in Europe, the US and Japan fly first class? No, but it is available for those who can. Will everyone in Brazil be able to take the bullet train from Rio to São Paulo to have dinner? No, but I would like to have that option available to me and to those who can.

They think Brazilians shouldn't be able to travel using fast trains, because we are stuck in the third world forever. This is where we belong: in poverty and backwardness! How dare we be so insolent? We should know our place in the world! We are DALITS!

Germany and France have the size of a medium Brazilian State and yet have a lot of trains. Of course Brazil needs to build trains! It's imperative to build them!

Actually, I would prefer a bullet train 100% paid by private money and privately owned, but this is impossible with this socialist government we have right now...

Nice. So, instead of installing plumbing for 100 million people they should put together a bullet train for the likes of you, so that you can have dinner!

I see that determining priorities is your forte. Bravo.

Mind you, the guy who will shove the barrel of a gun in your mouth in any given traffic light in Brazil is the same guy you want to neglect with this ridiculous idea of a bullet train. Capisce??

Brazil is a country of rednecks (caipiras).

Just like a redneck who doesnt have front teeth, sports a mullet and lives in a craphole but has the newest shiny truck, Brazil doesn't have plumbing to half its population, has millions living in favelas but wants a shiny bullet train, so that the privileged part of its population can feel like they are "as good as Europe". Ludicrous.

Hint: you can buy a bullet train, a teleport machine, give Ferraris to every single citizen and Brasil will still be a craphole. Because what determines if a place is a craphole or not is the SOFTWARE (people) not the HARDWARE.

And the software running Brazil, as we all know, is one big trojan horse.

Chinaski,
50% of the Brazilian GDP is concentrated in the triangle between Rio, BH and SP. This train will have a tremendous economic impact. Read a little bit of the "Edital".
"http://www.antt.gov.br/index.php/content/view/17371/126_2012.html"
"Brazil doesn't have plumbing to half its population, has millions living in favelas but wants a shiny bullet train, so that the privileged part of its population can feel like they are "as good as Europe". Ludicrous."
One thing doesn't inhibit the other. This train will make Brazil earn more money to invest on basic sanitation and favelas, because it will bring development and increase the overall GDP. Of course it would be better if only private companies were spending to build the train...

There's a reason they are auctioning this for the 4th time: the economics do NOT look good.

Plus foreign investors know the story in Brazil: they will come in build the thing, operate it and then tax laws will change, this will change, that will change and the guys who built the whole thing expecting a profit by year X will end up with the short end of the stick. Look at Chevron: they wanted to fine them for 20 billions for a fairly small spill. Petrobras? Never would have happened. Think that other foreign investors didn't notice this 5 star treatment?

Brazil is not to be trusted and if I was a foreign company I'd never bid on this. Let them ride their shitty 1.0 cars on their shitty roads to their shitty cities until they become a little more civilized and start treating 100 million people without plumbing with a minimum of respect and dignity.

"This train will make Brazil earn more money to invest on basic sanitation and favelas"

Yeah sure. Last time Brazil "earned money" did you see any favelas improving? No? I wonder why!
Because favelas aren't really a priority. Nobody gives a crap about them. Sanitation? Let them squat. Year after year Brazil's govt is setting tax earning records. How come you still see favelas and sewage everywhere?

Money was used to give fish to people, not to teach them how to fish, and now you have the biggest vote buying scheme in the history of humanity (Bolsa Familia). Think it's going to be easy to roll that back?

So, if you want Brazil to "earn more money" make it possible for PEOPLE to grow, not allow a few privileged people (and companies) to reap the benefits. The whole "eh preciso fazer o bolo crescer antes de dividi-lo" ("you need to grow the cake before sharing it") is a big lie and this project is a classic example.

Why all the resentment, hatred and bitterness towards Brazil? ...Brazil, a country of rednecks you say? A craphole? Really? I think not...

Listen, there will always be the haves and the have nots… IT'S REALITY... There will always be countries with good policies and countries with bad policies… Some countries will choose to spend their taxpayers' money building infrastructure projects like high speed rail others will choose to spend on money invading foreign countries (think Iraq and Afghanistan) or maintaining the lavish lifestyle of their monarchy (think Windsors). Fortunately, in lieu of wars and other frivolities of royal proportions, Brazil has chosen to invest its taxpayers' money in social programs such as Bolsa Família, Fome Zero, Brasil Sem Miséria and Minha Casa Minha Vida among others, that benefit the underclasses. The money THOSE OF US WITH PLUMBING pay in taxes go to those programs which have lifted millions of Brazilians out of poverty and into the middle class. Yes, Bravo to THOSE OF US WITH PLUMBING who have helped to make that the NEW REALITY in Brazil. If Dilma wants to build a high speed rail line, so be it! Those of us who can afford the service deserve it! I just hope the future service offers a first class car... You know me, I have my priorities...

The examples you mentioned about the US and UK are meaningless: they have 99.9% literacy, 40k+ per capita income, infrastructure, safety, etc, etc, etc.

It will take maybe 40 years before Brazil can even THINK about comparing itself with these countries. Now THAT is reality.

With that said:

Brasil Sem Miseria?

Well, the REALITY you talk about is: Brasil is pretty far away from having no misery.

This is yet another bullshit marketing programme by a corrupt government (as corrupt as any really). Lifted millions out of poverty? Through what? Handouts? Ineffective.

"Those of us who can afford the service deserve it!"

Very egotistical of you. For those who can afford, everything, for those who cant, the "government" will shut their mouth with bolsa familia. Nice plan. You are basically perpetuating misery with hand outs instead of teaching skills to this people.

Provided they tax the heck out of people who will use the train and not a single cent of public money is invested, I am all for it. Except that if this becomes the case, the project will never ever become a reality.

"Why all the resentment, hatred and bitterness towards Brazil? ...Brazil, a country of rednecks you say? A craphole? Really? I think not..."

Yes. A craphole: 85th on the HDI, less literacy than Bolivia, 50% of people without plumbing, and so on and on and on

Chinaski, your problem is that your frame of mind is similar to the one a poet, a musician or an actor have. You need to think like an economist or an enginner. You let your feelings blur reason and logic. If the Brazilian Government were like you, they wouldn't have built the Brazilian airports, because it would be argued: "How come we are going to build airports when there are millions living in slums?" And Brazil wouldn't have airports today.
I'm certain that you know very little about the economic impact and development that this train will bring. Like I said, that triangle (Rio, BH, SP) represents 50% of the Brazilian GDP and it will be one of the most important economic hubs in the world by 2020. And this train will be crucial to achieve that. Brazil can be a third world s*hole, very corrupt and an unfair place, but it's the 6th GDP in the world and is a colossus regarding a tons of aspects. Denmark, Taiwan or the Netherlands would never be as important as Brazil. And the foreigners know that. Ask them. During the world economic crisis in 2008 Citibank said that it wouldn't sell its Brazilian branch no matter what. Now ask them if they would sell their bank in Belgium or other small developed country. They would. Brazil is huge and this mastodontic size regarding almost everything allows Brazil to overcome its odds. We know all the problems that Brazil have, but we are here, fighting to change things. What about you? It's easy to emmigrate to a developed country and have an ordinary comfortable life, and this is what our ridiculous elites do, they jump ship. People who jump ship shouldn't talk about what Brazil should do or not, because they don't even know Brazil anymore. An area with a GDP of 1 trillion dollars shouldn't have a bullet train because Brazil "has slums"? Come on, get out of here. Go say that to South Korea or China!

Hank(zinho) DES-MAS-CA-RA-DO! Give it up and hop the high speed train home to BRASIL! Yes, things used to be better for Brazilians living abroad but that has changed... It's time for a visit! As you are aware (from being SUCH an informed reader) Brazil, the craphole as you like to call it, overtook the UK in 2012 as the 6th largest economy in the world. And, as you know, it is poised to overtake France to become the 5th largest economy in the world. Frankly, I think it's time for you to go back home with the "knowledge" you acquired while living abroad, and make a better life for yourself, maybe with the help of some of the "redneck" friends you grew up with... Maybe you'll overcome some of your insecurities. But please, do so immediately brecause jobs in Brazil are being snapped up by highly qualified Americans and Europeans. Will you be qualified?

"During the world economic crisis in 2008 Citibank said that it wouldn't sell its Brazilian branch no matter what."

Of course not. Why would they sell a branch that is super profitable as the entire banking system charge ridiculous interest rates? It is OBVIOUS they would not sell it. You think that they wouldn't sell it because Brazil is this special place full of potential but reality is they can gouge their stupid customers with ridiculous interest rates and bank fees.

"Brazil is huge and this mastodontic size regarding almost everything allows Brazil to overcome its odds. "

"We know all the problems that Brazil have, but we are here, fighting to change things."

Favelas exist for more than 100 years. Looks like either Brazil is not really fighting or they don't really want to change.

"What about you? It's easy to emmigrate to a developed country and have an ordinary comfortable life, and this is what our ridiculous elites do, they jump ship."

Bullshiat. I was very well paid to bring the skills that I built by myself, without any help from the state whatsoever. And I went to a developing country (China). Your personal attacks are again wrong.

"People who jump ship shouldn't talk about what Brazil should do or not, because they don't even know Brazil anymore. "

Bullshit. People who lived in Brazil and know the other side are in a much better position to criticize the country than the inbreds sitting in Rio or Sao Paulo thinking that they are hot sh!t when they aren't.

"An area with a GDP of 1 trillion dollars shouldn't have a bullet train because Brazil "has slums"?"

Are you so egotistical that you can't sympathize with the millions of miserables in Brazil?

Some "patriota" are you! Shame on you!

"Go say that to South Korea or China!"

Having lived in China for several years I can guarantee you that I was as critical as I could be of that country. That's why I am able to criticize Brasil. I could observe from close on how a country can lift itself out of a much worse situation than Brasil.

However, over the past 30 years China went from being absolutely nothing to becoming 3 times the economy of your beloved Brazil.

You simply dont get this because you are inbred: China was in deep poverty 30 years ago and now it is absolutely the boss of countries like Brazil.

Brazil has had all possible advantage over China (smaller population, democracy, freedom of the press) but still SQUANDERED ALL OPPORTUNITIES.

You will never understand that because you apparently lived all your life in Brazil and can't fathom how the rest of the world operates.

"Of course not. Why would they sell a branch that is super profitable as the entire banking system charge ridiculous interest rates? It is OBVIOUS they would not sell it. You think that they wouldn't sell it because Brazil is this special place full of potential but reality is they can gouge their stupid customers with ridiculous interest rates and bank fees."

Venezuela has ridiculous interest rates and bank fees too. It's more than this.

"Bullshiat. I was very well paid to bring the skills that I built by myself, without any help from the state whatsoever. And I went to a developing country (China). Your personal attacks are again wrong."

What a patriot...

"Bullshit. People who lived in Brazil and know the other side are in a much better position to criticize the country than the inbreds sitting in Rio or Sao Paulo thinking that they are hot sh!t when they aren't."

We know what we are. We know what Brazil is too.
A huge potential that will be unleashed some day. And we are working on this.

"Are you so egotistical that you can't sympathize with the millions of miserables in Brazil?"

Of course I can. And that's why this train must be built! To bring development and create more jobs in the region, hence collecting more taxes to the Brazilian State. Just like Guarulhos (more passengers per year than Melbourne and Shenzhen) has been doing for decades now.

"You simply dont get this because you are inbred: China was in deep poverty 30 years ago and now it is absolutely the boss of countries like Brazil."

Are you being serious? I mean, China is going to surpass the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA in more 10 or 20 f.. years! And you tell me that Brazil should be bigger than China? A country with 1,5 bi people?! Are you joking, right? And India is going to surpass Brazil too. What can we do? But I think we will be able to hold Indonesia at least.

"Go travel through Asia and you will see how pathetic your claims are."

Your hate towards Brazil is so huge that you've become a pathological pessimist. Despite all odds Brazil will be a developed country by 2030 (Nobel prize winners said, not me). And Brazil has an ace up its sleeve that China doesn't have: elections. We can change the direction of our country if we want, we can complain, we can write articles and put them in newspapers or share via twitter and facebook and no one will arrest us. What about China? They can only pray to have a wise and benevolent rulling elite and that's it. China achieve its progress with a very high human cost. They were selling Fallun Gong members' organs to other countries like it was beef just to increase the GDP. They import technological trash from the US and put people over it scraping rare earths like lithium and other carcinogen elements...

I prefer Brazil's way.

And may I ask why do you care so much about Brazil? I mean, you don't have plans to live here. You don't have plans to help us to change this country. You don't want to invest in Brazil. You think Brazil suck. You think we are all losers. Why do you bother thinking about Brazil? Forget this s*hole. Forget Brazilians. Make a plastic surgery to narrow your eyes and start pretending that you are an Asian.

"A huge potential that will be unleashed some day. And we are working on this."

HAHAHAHHA. The country of the future!

Except that the future never arrives.

Why?

Because nobody will get their asses to Brazilia and SHOVE down the throats of the political class what is really necessary to do. In fact most people don't even agree what is necessary to begin with. Nobody will go to Brazilia and say: "we are tired of spending 2/3 of the budget in over generous pentions and benefits to public employees, we will decreae their pensions by 50% TODAY." Why? Because people would rather find a "boca", a teat, even if the existence of said teat destroys the rest of the country than reforming things to make a level playing field.

Look here at The Economist: if somebody from state A says something that is good for the whole country, the first reaction from somebody from state B or C is to bring person from state A down.

This is being a jeca tatu to the Nth degree.

"And may I ask why do you care so much about Brazil?"

Why the heck do you care about why I care? The fact I care or not or live there or not is immaterial. Quit being personal.

"Your hate towards Brazil is so huge that you've become a pathological pessimist. "

So you are saying that calling Guarulhos an "airport" is being a pessimist? Sure, sign me up!

Go to the biggest crapholes in Asia and you will see a better effort than Brazil. Go to Pnomh Phen in Cambodia and you will see a better working airport. Thailand? Malaysia?

Even Colombia. Go drink water from the tap anywhere in Brazil. Brazil is one of the richest countries in the world when it comes to water and you can't drink water from the tap. How pathetic is that? What bigger proof of a complete failed state do you need?

I rather be a pessimist than the happy go lucky brazilian "intelligentzia" who is happy with living in a cesspool and do nothing other than congratulate itself on being "the 6th economy in the world" (obviously incapable of seeing that it needs 32 times the area and 3 times the population to become said 6th economy).

If you can't see how much of an underachiever Brazil is, you have a serious perspective problem.
You label what I say as "hate" but it is actually the opposite: because I travelled and I saw what is possible I know how much of a failure Brasil is and I know how much better it could be. Can YOU say that? No you can't. Being happy with breadcrumbs is stupid.

"And you tell me that Brazil should be bigger than China?"

Who said that?

"A country with 1,5 bi people?!"

Well you just contradicted yourself. End of story, sugarlips. If Brazil shouldn't be "bigger" than China because it is smaller (1/7 the people!), then we should expect Brazil's GDP to be several times bigger than the UK, after all, the UK is "smaller".

According to your own theory Brazil is a big underachiever, which we know it is.

End of story. You proved me right without even noticing it.

Further: you don't really get the point about china. Has nothing to do with size, has to do with speed.

In 30 years they were able to produce reforms that took their country from absolute poverty to a GDP per capita close to Brazil. 30 years and a determined leadership.

"They were selling Fallun Gong members' organs to other countries like it was beef just to increase the GDP."

To increase GDP? How naive. Those were corrupt officials, has NOTHING to do with GDP.

"They import technological trash from the US and put people over it scraping rare earths like lithium and other carcinogen elements..."

HAHAHHAHAHA. Sonny, China is one of the very few countries with rare earth reserves! You know NOTHING about what you are talking about. And by the way: Lithium IS NOT a rare Earth. In fact Argentina and Bolivia are very rich in lithium (Brazil has it too) but they will, like any banana republic, export all of the lithium salts to Asia just to import it back as batteries and high value added items. How stupid. Just like the clowns in Brazil will buy coffee "toasted in Italy"! Brazilian coffee that is shipped all the way to Italy and then shipped back. How clever is that?

Carcinogen elements? How is living in a favela NOT carcinogenic, at least to a psychological level?
What about the pollution in Brazilian cities?

"I prefer Brazil's way."

Which way? Not giving plumbing to 100 million people? Having favelas for more than 100 years?
Clenching your sphincter at every red light you stop, afraid of being robbed by the guy you didn't want to give plumbing to? Having a lower literacy rate than Bolivia? Having murderous crappy and expensive roads where you can drive a crappy expensive car on?

" And Brazil has an ace up its sleeve that China doesn't have: elections. "

HAHAHAHHAHAH.

Sure. Some good elections did!

Look: we now have Collor de Mello as a SENATOR even though he is a corrupt scumbag who never spent a night in jail.

We know all the problems that Brazil has. Yeah, we are not using rose-coloured glasses. There is a snowball effect currently happening in Brazil. Brazilians are heavy users of twitter and facebook, and people are starting to wake up. The younger generations are better than the older ones, because they were not born during the dictatorship and they like to speak for themselves.

It may seem a silly and small thing, but it's not. Can you imagine something like that happening in China? Can't you see the HUGE advantage Brazil has over China regarding democracy? Can't you see that A LOT of Brazilians are fed up with the current situation? Can't you notice that almost 45 million Brazilians voted AGAINST the status quo during the 2010 presidential elections?

I would dare say that huge changes in Brazil are imminent. And I know that because I live here.
LULA WORKER'S PARTY DOESN'T OWN BRAZIL!

And I can perceive a similar phenomenon in both Argentina and Venezuela as well.

No plumbing doesn't mean no drinking water, but rather treated sewage; Bolivia doesn't have any reliable statistic, so what you're talking about is most probably the literacy rate in LaPaz, not on the country as a whole.
You should first get more up-to-date and more reliable data before you write all this crap or, even better, start to worry about Brazil and look at your own country, be it what the hell it possibly is.

So, why would De Gaulle say "Brazil is not a serious country." Was he stupid?

Lemme guess: if somebody says something "good", he is smart. If they say something bad (De Gaulle), he is "stupid".

Is that how you determine what is stupid and what is not stupid?

You think that Clinton would come to an Itau event and say "Brazil sucks, they got it all wrong, corruption is at critical levels and anywhere serious would have put a lot people against a lot of wall"?

Did you ask how much money Itau paid Clinton and Blair (and presumably FHC) to show up?

Are you a Redneck? Didn't think so!!! A true redneck would never criticise its own country.
As one of the Rednecks and proud of being one, we ARE, whether you and the rest of the world like it or not, becoming a nation full of WISE rednecks.
Brazil, as a leader in many sectors, can benefit from projects such as the bullet train having several multiplier effects in the economy. Such effects can sustain and even improve its economic growth.
Now, mind your own SOFTWARE that we Rednecks (the new version of SOFTWARE) will mind our own.
Now, save your critics and start accepting that the Rednecks are wiser than you.

Newsflash: De Gaulle never said that.
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You talk a lot about China. Yet you whine about the PT being allied with PMDB, Sarney, and others of those idiots (on that I agree with you). Well, I wonder what do you think about China allying itself with Assad, Putin and others from this band of jovial and cheerful world leaders. I wish I could have some internal example from China to give to you, but since I have none, because all of those who are against the Party are enemies of the state (Bo Xilai), I can only cite international examples.
Also, you lie when you say Dieese's unemployement rates are 10% above IBGE's rates.
Dieese says unemployement is at 10%. IBGE's says it is 5,8%. That's a difference of 4.2%, and as an economist, I can tell you that using different statistical models and different samples can lead to this, in a really reasonable way. Show me some article contesting IBGE's statistical model, and I'll give you (a few) kudos.

Easy to do that with a single party system. If you wish that on your own people, we are better off without you.
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"You simply dont get this because you are inbred: China was in deep poverty 30 years ago and now it is absolutely the boss of countries like Brazil."

Thanks for the reasonable answer. Even though we disagree I can see you know your stuff and don't spill the BS that less erudite posters seem to be fond of. Anyway...

There is no question that France is miles ahead of Brazil in any level you chose. Human development, economic development, cultural development, you chose.

Once Brazil achieves what France did, then we can dismiss their opinions like you seem to be inclined to do. In fact, none's opinions should be dismissed, coming from the virtual "above" Brazil level and "below" too. The challenge is to take the criticism and process it, not negate who says it or try to sugarcoat reality.

If De Gaulle said what he supposedly said or not, it doesn't matter, because reality still is Brazil is not a serious country.

Anyway, let's move on.

Let's talk China.

As you might have read from my posts, I'm from Brazil and lived there for many years. I watched from the front rows how economic development can take place.

But I can't say the same about Brazil. Listen, Lula, Dilma and even Serra & co all fought AGAINST the Assads of Brazil. When Lula took power, he instantly transformed himself into a supporter of the biggest turds in the world. The turds that used to crush him are the turds he became allied to.

He went ahead and became friends of the Castros and Chavez and Iranian Midgets of this world who run dictatorships or fake democracies that are summarize what a lot of people from Lula's own party died for.

And the reason for that is so naive and simple: a complete hate of the developed world, mostly out of a deep inferiority complex. Lula hates (and most Brazilians do), that the developed world disdains Brazil. But he doesn't address the root causes of that disdain: that Brazil does not even come close to its potential. Not even close.

Who should respect Brazil based on what it actually achieved?

And of course Clinton will come to Brazil and play a violin and tell the audiences with beady eyes how Brazil is this big example. Why would he do it differently? Speaking his mind (I imagine that he agrees that Brazil is not the land of milk and honey) will only end up in Brazil getting its act together, and who needs that?

Like Kissinger said: "America doesn't have friends, it has interests." In fact not only America, but EVERY country.

I disklike China more than Brazil for many reasons BUT it is unquestionable that in the economic and reform arenas they did an outstanding job. If they did it while being a totalitarian hellhole, why can't Brazil do it. Why should we settle for a ridiculous infrastructure? Why? Tell me.

Yesterday I went all the way from West End and 67th to 2nd Avenue and 50th at 6pm in 10 minutes flat. Why shouldn't I want this for my country? Why should I settle with 3 hours at Marginal Pinheiros? Can't a man dream and be frustrated if his dreams will never become reality? Can I get at least that?

You all seem to use Democracy as a disadvantage when convenient ("oh it is difficult to do reforms in a democracy") and as an advantage when you want to discredit China's achievements ("yeah but they are totalitarian so even though 100 million of our people don't have a proper toilet not can drink clean water, we are still "ahead" of them because hey every four years we press colored buttons in the voting machine and think we are really changing things"). Can you all decide if Democracy is a force for good or not?

One of the reasons for leaving China was related to the article you quoted from The Economist. This will NOT end up well (you might want to research what Empress Dowager Cixi did in 1900, and write this down, it will be repeated in one way or another).

So, to me most people here who celebrate "being the 6th economy in the world" are basically naive and feeling somewhat satisfied with an achievement that, considering Brazil's potential, is nothing more than its obligation. Look, it took a country 32 times bigger and 3 times the population to produce the same results as the UK. This is with all letters pathetic. If one can't see that, then one is truly a lost cause.

If you were judging two factories and one had 32 times the resources and 3 times the number of workers, would you expect it to produce the same thing? (Here's where you'd invalidate my argument by saying "oh but countries aren't factories at the same time you all pick a clear cut number (GDP) to measure Brazil's "achievement").

Ludicrous.
Bashing?
Which part is bashing?
-Lower literacy than Bolivia?
-Around 100 million without proper plumbing and water?
-85th position in the HDI?
-Taking a country 32 times bigger and 3 times the population to produce the same GDP as the UK?
-Having only 1 Nobel Prize by a guy who left when he was 16 never to come back while the rest of LAtin America have 19 Nobel Prizes?
All of these are facts. Against facts there are no arguments.
You are just bitter because what I said is nothing but the truth.
You might want to pick up a book sometime and learn that Hank Chinaski is a character of a famous novel.
And as for me coming back or not: how is that relevant to the discussion? Or perhaps an even better question: how is that relevant to any of the points raised above? Well, it isn't.
You sport a classic brazilian trait, responsible for all that's wrong with it: you can't take any criticism and rather shoot the messenger than turning off the novela and going to work.
Next time you are in your crappy car in a crappy road in a traffic light at night, hoping that none of the miserables who you want to deny plumbing and dignity will shove a gun or perhaps something else in your mouth to steal your Miami muamba, think about Chinaski, honey.

My opinion is, Brazil has two big parties already just around the corner, the Olympics and the world cup and it looks that the cost on those going right to the taxpayer,s pockets ,guest who?? The Brazilians!!!And as far as I know here in the economist they are stack with the cousto Brazil and many things but they really wants lo look as a superpower and they going to end with a huge debt!!!
Good look Brazil and thanks for paying for the next big parties.!!!

I can build it for 10 billions € and guarantee the trip will take 2 hours if Brazilian government deals with acquiring all the land on route and no threats of nationalizing this golden goose will be thrown in my direction for at least 299 years.

High speed trains are a terrible idea for the United States as well. The only way high speed trains work is if you have an extreme density route and the land is already available. The only place it makes sense in the US is on the Boston-Washington DC run, and in that densely populated part of the country, land is already tied up. And right now, California is very much like a third world country, so far in debt that there's no possible way out in the long run. So that's where they want to build the first line. Insanity.

Often, the BRIC countries are so fixed on trying to be frontrunners, the so-called new economic engines of the world, they miss some of the critical issues at home.

In reference to high-speed rail, there are more immediate issues that need attention in order to establish a solid domestic foundation, and ultimately first tier-country status.

What in the world could be the driver that promotes high-speed rail instead of addressing other long neglected issues impacting the lives of the citizens? What are the more immediate and greater needs?

High-speed rail or

further enhancing, expanding and maintaining the existing road network that currently services more businesses and institutions than rail, or connecting more residents to their local municipal sewer systems, or overhauling the ports, airports and intermodal network in an effort to enhance import/export functionality and efficiency, or ensuring that as many residents as possible have access to potable water . . . and the beat goes on.

(I’m sure most of you can add important subjects to the short list above)

The BR government has tremendous opportunity cost issues to deal with. I just hope they are up to the task of accomplishing some of the more critical issues that have been long neglected before they spend on high-speed rail and/or submarines.

I am Brazilian and I share the same opinion as the author! If it was a private initiative, fine! Though I believe that in terms of ridership the "ponte" between SP and RJ would have enough demand, however I do not get the fact that a country with so much to do to become a TRUE developed nation is still considering this nonsense. The US, for example, a super power, is starting to develop its first bullet speed train now (in the state of California)! And the sad part is that, when this "project" eventually gets done, the propaganda will already have contaminated the minds of many poor minded Brazilians to a point where they will be proud of themselves, and things like, "...Oh, we are one of the few countries in the world to have such a beauty...."

American here. Even America should not build these rails. They are financially unviable with even the most generous cost/usage estimates. They are very cool, but both countries have more pressing infrastructure that should be prioritized.

I second your opinion, the government should not go on with this project, it is madness at a time when we need other, more important and more urgent investments.

Just a technical note: it would be wrong to consider the minimum wage a good proxy of brazilian monthly wage, because few of us have earnings based on this figure. The minimum wage is useful to link pensioners´ wage only, among other less meaningful uses. A better figure would be IBGE´s average monthly disposable income.

I think that this is just another example of Brazil's latest penchant for trying to prove its growing importance by wasting a lot of cash. The Soviets and ourselves wasted billions just like this back in the day: now Brazil wants to prove it's as dumb as the countries on the Security Council. But thanks for paying for the next Olympics guys.

All they need to do is tax the price of gasoline to about 5x its wholesale value like the Europeans do and bazillions of Brazilians will ride the rails! Why don't they just adopt the Euro and get on with it?

Better still, call me when Sao Paulo has a bona fide
freeway. By comparision, San Francisco, CA (a town 7 miles
by 7 miles) has two freeways and two subway systems (Bart and
Muni).

If Brazil were to build a Golden Gate Bridge anytime during
its long history, and the price tag was $35 million (as in the original design),
the following would likely take place:

Brazilian Contractors: $35 million? Forget about it. We can cut corners for $5 million
and pocket $30 million among ourselves.

Regulators: The bridge might collapse, we can't stand for that.

Brazilian Contractors: Ok, we give you guys $10 million.

Regulators: Since you mentioned it, the $5 million will do just fine. We don't see a problem.

News at 11:
Brazil's version of Golden Gate Bridge collapsed today because builders used more
sand than concrete in its construction. The bridge joins Elevado Paulo Frontin and
Maracana Stadium as another example of Brazil's shoddy workmanship. The government
has washed its hand on the matter. Investigators have said that culprits will be punished
(note: yeah, right, just like Mensalao and Collor de Mello. hahaha).